Environmental justice (EJ) continues to evolve as states respond to shifting federal priorities and community needs. New Jersey has emerged as a leader, integrating equity considerations into core environmental programs, supported by its landmark 2020 EJ law and a long-standing emphasis on strong environmental protections.

In the 14th episode of "Groundtruth," New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette joins Principal Hilary Jacobs (Washington, DC) and Of Counsel Justin Smith (Washington, DC) to discuss how the state is operationalizing EJ, measuring progress, and adapting to the major changes in federal policy and funding with the new Administration. Commissioner LaTourette outlines how New Jersey incorporates EJ into decision-making, the practical work of translating EJ principles into concrete, data-driven actions, and the challenges of aligning state and federal roles. The conversation also explores support for community-based organizations, funding constraints, and how businesses can navigate evolving EJ frameworks.

“Groundtruth” is a podcast series, produced in partnership with the Environmental Law Institute’s People Places Planet Podcast, that explores EJ trends and developments. 

In the 11th episode of "Groudtruth," Associates Noa Ervin and Claire McLeod interview Deniss Martinez, PhD Candidate at the University of California Davis, on the practices of prescribed burns. Indigenous people used prescribed burns in forests for thousands of years to manage land, reduce wildfire risk, and support cultural practices. This episode focuses on how colonial governments and land management agencies have suppressed these practices, and highlight the recent progress in restoring Indigenous fire management.

In the tenth episode of "Groundtruth," Beveridge & Diamond Principal Julius M. Redd (Washington, DC) speaks with New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette. Commissioner LaTourette joined the first "Groundtruth" episode in April 2021, shortly after the Governor of New Jersey signed landmark environmental justice legislation into law in 2020. In our latest episode, he joins Julius again to discuss the Department’s proposed implementing rules for this law, which were published in early June 2022.

“Groundtruth” is a podcast series, produced in partnership with the Environmental Law Institute's People Places Planet Podcast that explores EJ trends and developments. 

B&D Associate Hilary Jacobs (Washington, DC) led the content development for this episode.

Learn more about B&D's EJ practice: www.bdlaw.com/EJ.

In the ninth episode of “Groundtruth,” Associate Hilary Jacobs (Washington, DC), speaks with Professor Achinthi Vithanage, the Associate Director of Environmental Law Programs at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, and Jesse Glickstein, Environmental & Human Rights Counsel for Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s Global Social and Environmental Responsibility Team. They discuss environmental justice (EJ) on a global scale and what companies can do to advance EJ, climate justice, and human rights goals worldwide.

More than 30 years ago, roughly 1,100 people attended the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit in Washington, DC to discuss the environmental injustices they were experiencing in their communities. Considered by many as the birth of the environmental justice (EJ) movement, the four-day summit concluded with the adoption of the 17 Principles of Environmental Justice, still relevant today.

In the eighth episode [link] of "Groundtruth," the Environmental Law Institute (ELI)’s Arielle King chats with key organizers and leaders of the historical summit: Vernice Miller-Travis, a longtime EJ advocate and cofounder of WE ACT for Environmental Justice, a northern Manhattan community-based organization, who currently serves as the Executive Vice President of Metropolitan Group; and Charles Lee, organizer of the First Summit who currently serves as the Senior Policy Advisor at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Office of Environmental Justice. The episode honors and celebrates the 30th anniversary of the 17 Principles by taking a look at how far we’ve come, and how far we still have to go.

“Groundtruth” is a podcast series, produced in partnership with the Environmental Law Institute’s People Places Planet Podcast, that explores EJ trends and developments.

Beveridge & Diamond Associate Jessica Maloney (New York) led the content development for this episode.

In the seventh episode of "Groundtruth," the Co-Chairs of Beveridge & Diamond's Environmental Justice practice, Stacey Sublett Halliday and Julius Redd (Washington, DC), briefly recap recent EJ policy developments, the launch of the Council on Environmental Quality's Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), and what’s to come.

They then talk with two EJ leaders from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Matthew Tejada, Director of EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice, and Samantha Phillips Beers, Director of the EPA Region III Office of Communities, Tribes, and Environmental Assessment. They discuss how EPA defines environmental, social, and governance (ESG); how companies can advance EJ through comprehensive ESG programs; and how such initiatives can be reported and evaluated in a meaningful way.

“Groundtruth” is a podcast series, produced in partnership with the Environmental Law Institute’s People Places Planet Podcast, that explores EJ trends and developments.

Beveridge & Diamond Associate Hilary Jacobs (Washington, DC) led the content development for this episode.

Beveridge & Diamond Principal John Cruden (Washington, DC), who formerly served as Assistant Attorney General of DOJ’s Environment & Natural Resources Division (2015-2017), speaks with renowned environmental justice (EJ) leader and advocate Benjamin F. Wilson. Ben, who recently retired after serving years as Chairman of Beveridge & Diamond, has deep experience with EJ representations and is a recognized leader on diversity, equity, and inclusion issues in the legal profession. In December, The American Lawyer presented Ben with its Lifetime Achievement Award, and Lawyers of Color listed Ben among the “Most Influential Black Lawyer of the Decade.” Ben manages the Diverse Lawyers Network, teaches at the Howard University School of Law, and is an active member on many boards, including serving as Chair for the Environmental Law Institute.

“Groundtruth” is a podcast series, produced in partnership with the Environmental Law Institute’s People Places Planet Podcast, that explores EJ trends and developments.

Beveridge & Diamond Associate Hilary Jacobs (Washington, DC) led the content development for this episode.

In the fifth episode of “Groundtruth,” B&D Principal and former Special Counsel in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of General Counsel Stacey Sublett Halliday (Washington, DC) sits down with two environmental justice (EJ) leaders at EPA – Charles Lee (Senior Policy Advisor) and Matthew Tejada (Director of the Office of Environmental Justice) – to hear their insights on what’s in store for 2022. Charles and Matthew discuss how far EPA has come, how to contextualize the change that we are seeing, key goals for 2022, and best practices for those trying to incorporate EJ considerations into their work.

B&D Associate Hilary Jacobs (Washington, DC) led the content development for this episode.